Wallet protector



Dec. 16, 1958 E. B. SCHICK WALLET PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 9, 1956 INVENTOR.

ELMEE Es. Scu-uc ATT OEN EYS United States Patent *WALLEr-PROTECTOR Elmer B Schick, Lexington, Mich. rnpisliafion Novenabera'isiss, Seria l No. 6215416 :1 Claim. :24- 3 fiThis invention has reference-toa device adapted for attachment' to an otherwise ceaventmnar wallet, and so designed-as tomakeit flicultg if'not completely impossible, 'for one 'tolos'e his' wallet accidentally-'orhave it stolen fromithe" pocket.

A*wallehofthe'typemaving a transverse *foldintermediate its' ends is conventionally 'folded and inserted ino'n'e pocket. *In thcse'circurnstanees, it-sometimes happens that the wallet war tend to slip but of the hip pocket, as for example,"when-one is in aseated position, or 'is',perhapsjindulging in physical exercise. Inother circun'istances,"ones pocket may be-pick'edyand" in this situation, the "wallet is "removed without knowledge on thepart'ot the owner o'f th wallet.

In view of' th --ab'ove, it is proposed in carrying out the-invention, toprovide at wallet protector having end portions" projecting "beyon -the opposite longitudinal edgeso'f the"wallet, =with said-endportionsbeing adapted tUengageopposite walls of thepocket in a manner such that the wallet will be held not only against accidentally slippingout of -the Epocket, but also, -will bind within the pocket should an-attempt be made to extract the same without the ownersknowle'dge.

Another object is to provide a-wallet protector of the character described that--canbe manufactured at a -very low co'st,' a"ndcan'be embodiedinanyofvarious types of conventional"- wallets -of the type "-"ir'i'serted in ones *hip pocket.

Still another object'lisito 'forrna wallet protector in such a manner that it can be readily grasped and flexed to a esition'iawhich "it"will'no longer-bind thewallet within the pocket. In this connection, the flexure of the protector to such position, while being accomplished readily by the owner, is so designed as to prevent the flexing action from being carried out without full insertion of ones hand into the pocket and an accompanying exertion of a positive force tending to flex the protector. In this way, obviously, one attempting to steal the wallet by adjusting the protector to a pocket disengaging position would not be able to do so without the owner becoming fully aware of the attempted theft.

A further object is to provide a wallet protector as described which not only can be used on various types of makes of wallets, but further, can be engaged with said wallets with little or no modification or redesign of the wallet.

Another object is to provide a protective device for insertion in ones pocket which will be adapted for binding within the pocket against accidental loss or theft, not only wallets but any other articles that are insertable in the pocket to which articles the device can be attached. In other words, it is proposed that the wallet protector be designed to engage in the pocket any article to which it can be connected.

Another object is to provide a protective device of the character described that can be manufactured at an extremely low cost, and will not detract from the appearance of the wallet to which it is secured.

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2 Other objects will appear from"the"following description; the --claim appended thereto;-' and from annexed drawing, in which like reference 'characters'designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figu'rel is a-pers'pective view showing-'the dev-ice as it appears whembinding the wallet against unauthorized removalof the-wallet from ones'pock'et;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the 'open wallet with 'theprotector connected thereto:

*Figure 3-is a--'d'etailed" sectional'view, still further 'enlarged," transversely "through-the protector substantially on line' '33 of 'Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view 'ofthe protector" per--se;

Figure 5 is an-edge-*elevational view of the protector per setand Figure6 is an-en1arged transverse -'sec'tiional -view l on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Designated generally at" 10' is-acoriventional wallet. The wallet illustratedisof the folding "type, and is l: in association with a' protec'tor '12 formed in accordance withthe present invention.

The wallet-includes the usualilaminati ns13, 14. and

these may be of anydes'ired-nurriber. The device-can, in' fact,"'be used with thetype or wauet having accordion folds. *"In *anyevent, the"illustrated wallet, which is typical" of conventional wallets -'in"-use, has end portions 16, 18 rename-mm "superposed, closed positions shown inFigu're along a "transverse fold-line 'm.

' Protector 1 2 comprises two in'ain 'cornponentgone of these being amain st'rip' 22 which isforrried from a'length of flat, thin spring inate'rial. The m'ain'-strip,- and in fact'the entire device, can hefaced' with leather or otherwise ornamentallysur faced as (ie sir'edfso as to blend withthe "finish'of the'wallet.

The main strip 22; "medially hetween' its ends, is narrowed in width as in 24, that isf-t'he rnain" strip tapers gradually in width froni eachendto'ward its" mid-length poinfi as bestshown in "Figure 4. At its opposite ends, the main strip is''r'ounded, 'to 'prevent'darnage to the side vii/fall s of 'the "pocket 'P in which the wallet 10 would normally be dispos'ed't'see Figure '1).

overlying the. main :"strip is a connecting strip is used tQfholdth main strip and'wallet'in relation. "The iconne cting' 'st'rip is of -a W1 th approxr matelweqhal to 'thininihlumWidthpf the' inain -strip (see Figure 4), and at one end has a rounded end portion 30, the side edges of which merge into the walls of transversely aligned, small notches 31 formed in the opposite side edges of the connecting strip. A narrow clip or staple 32 extends transversely of the connecting strip, with the legs of the staple extending through the notches 31 (see Figure 6) and being then extended through openings 33 formed in the main strip in substantial registration with the notches 31. The legs of the clip or staple are crimped under the main strip, so as to hold the main and connector strips against movement at the location of the clip.

The clip 32 is disposed substantially medially between one rounded end of the main strip and the narrow midlength portion of said main strip. Similarly disposed between the other end of the main strip and the narrow portion is an oblong slot 34 formed in the main strip. At the corresponding end, the connector strip 28 has a rounded head 36, the side walls of which merge into recesses 38 deeper than the notches 31. The recesses 38 define a neck 39 on the connector strip adjacent the head 36, which neck is narrower than the slot 34 as shown in Figure 4.

By reason of this arrangement, in assembling the connector and the main strips, the head 36 may first be inserted through the slot 34, with the strips in perpendicularly related planes. Thereafter, with the head inserted and underlying the main strip as shown in Figure 5, the connector strip can be turned 90 degrees about an axis extending longitudinally thereof, so as to now be in superposed relation to the main strip, in the relative position of the strips shown in Figure 5. Thereafter, the clip 32 may be clinched as in Figure 6, to complete the connection.

It will be understood that this connection would not be made until the main strip has been extended between the superposed laminations 13, 14 of the wallet. In other Words, the main strip is first extended transversely through the wallet adjacent fold line 20 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The main strip is of a length substantially greater than the width of the wallet, so that the rounded end portions 26 project substantial distances outwardly laterally from the opposite sides of the wallet, as shown in both Figures 1 and 2. Thereafter, the connector strip, with lamination 13 disposed between the strips, is connected to the main strip in the manner previously described.

Both strips are preferably of springable material, and are highly flexible so as to permit the main strip to be flexed into a pronounced arcuate shape whenever the wallet is to be removed by the owner. In this way, the overall distance between the ends is reduced, so that the wallet can be readily slipped out of the pocket. However, the flexing of the main strip in this manner obviously requires that one insert his hand fully into the pocket, and insert a positive force upon the projecting ends of the main strip. While this can be done with ease by the owner, it is obvious that it could not be done by a pick-pocket, without the owner being made aware of the attempted theft. The main strip is also flexed at the time the wallet is being inserted into the pocket and after insertion, tends to return to a substantially flat or slightly curved shape as shown in Figure 5, causing the rounded ends 26 to bind against opposite side edges of the pocket to prevent unauthorized removal or accidental loss of the wallet.

It may be noted that when the main strip is flexed for insertion or removal of the wallet, the connecting strip has a limited sliding connection, provided by the head 36, neck 38, and slot 34, to the main strip, facilitating flexing of the main strip for the purpose of permitting the insertion or removal of the wallet.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles, and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted Within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A protective device connectable to an article for binding the article against unauthorized removal or loss from the pocket, comprising an elongated strip engageable with the article and adapted at its opposite ends beyond the respective sides of the article for binding against the side walls of the pocket, said strip being of resiliently flexible material and normally flexing to a substantially straight position, said strip being flexible to a curved condition to permit removal from the pocket; and a second strip for connecting the first strip to said article, said second strip terminating at both ends well inwardly from the corresponding ends of the first strip, said second strip being fixedly connected at one end to the first strip and having a sliding connection at its other end to the first strip, said sliding connection being arranged to limit the strips to sliding movement longitudinally of each other, said sliding connection comprising a flat head on the second strip at the base of which head said second strip has a neck reduced in width relative to the width of the portions of the second strip contiguous thereto, the first strip having a longitudinal slot greater in width than said neck but smaller in width than the maximum width of the head, the slot being greater in length than the width of the head to permit insertion of the head therethrough, said head lying in face-to-face, sliding engagement with one face of the first strip, said neck extending through the slot with the remainder of the first strip overlying the opposite face of the first strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 670,647 Stephens Mar. 26, 1901 702,505 Syme June 17, 1902 2,437,566 Stonebraker Mar. 9, 1948 2,604,918 Lesperance et al July 29, 1952 2,785,723 Buonaiuto Mar. 19, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,867 France 1919 

